The Fieldston community mourns the sudden loss of a vital and beloved member. Karen Russo was active in all facets of Fieldston life for several decades: from being a Fieldston parent to being a Fieldston volunteer to being a Fieldston teacher and mentor. She took great care of the school and her students with a loving personality and a lively spirit.
The sudden, unexpected loss of a member of our community is difficult, especially for the people who knew and loved her most. As expressed by her friends and family, here is the best way we can remember Karen:
Karen Russo was a member of the Fieldston community for more than 34 years. She first came to Fieldston as the parent of Jillian and Rocky, along with her husband and their father, Ron Russo.
Karen was an active parent. When Jillian was in first grade, Karen volunteered in the FL library. At the time, she was pregnant with Rocky. (Both would go on to be graduates of Fieldston.) Karen often volunteered throughout the years, helping to make snow dough, sew a costume, or assemble a plaster bird.
Karen often substituted at FL, eventually becoming a 2nd grade assistant teacher. She was an attentive, dedicated teacher who made sure each child’s needs were met. After her stint as an assistant, Karen became the head of the FL after school program. Karen had a deep respect for the families in her care. She created a fun, dynamic, nurturing environment for the children, as well as the parents. Recently Karen was working in the ECFS admissions office. Here too, Karen brought care and commitment to her work, taking time to think about the best way to connect to the children she interviewed. Karen was a regular attendee at the high school musicals. She so enjoyed all of the performances.
Karen was full of life and love for her family and friends. A generous, thoughtful person, she was always ready to offer help. A true pragmatist, Karen put effort and energy into solving problems. Not one to rush, she spent time contemplating the best way to carry out a plan or an idea. Karen also had a wonderful sense of humor about life’s challenges and foibles, often laughing, saying, “What are you gonna do?”
Karen lived life with kindness and a steady grace. She had a deep love for her children, Jillian and Rocky, and their spouses, Chris and Sarah. She delighted in catching up on their daily lives and extolling their adventures.
Karen was much loved by all who knew her. She made an enormous impact at Fieldston and in the lives of her friends and family. Karen will truly be missed.
A special thank you to Cathy Burns-Mcdonald for finding these wonderful sentiments from Karen’s loved ones.
